In the coming months, businesses need to be thinking of how they can best manage a return to the office with minimum threat to their staff.
For some employees it will be the first time they’ve been at work for over a year. They will naturally be very worried about what type of long lasting changes covid will have made to their everyday work routine.
Providing support to staff ought to reduce the risk of an outbreak whilst also increasing their confidence about remaining in close quarters with their peers. Appeasing any issues should see that staff performance is optimal.
The market uses all sorts of COVID associated testing which can be performed simply and dependably at home and in the office.
The most popular option is the rapid lateral flow antigen test and is suitable for people who do not have symptoms. This involves a swab of the person’s throat and nose. This sample is placed into a tube of solution and then added to the test strip, which shows results within 30 minutes.
A PCR test determines an active infection in a similar way by taking a swab of the throat and nose, which then goes to a dedicated lab for testing. Results are validated within 2 days and are accompanied with official certification.
Antibody testing is a measure you can put in place to record which workers have had the infection. This test uses a finger prick technique to extract a blood sample and can provide outcomes within 15 minutes. This can invoke confidence in your staff as they go about their every day life, knowing they may have developed a resistance to the virus (although research into this is ongoing).
For those who are yet to show COVID-19 antibodies, regular temperature tests can provide some peace of mind for employees and reduce the risk of an outbreak within the office.
Imminently, companies are opting for services whereby the tests are supplied and conducted on behalf of the organisation so that they can hit the ground running and go back to ‘business as usual’.
The more arrangements you make to secure and improve confidence in your personnel, the more you show that health and wellbeing is imperative to your service.
According to a research study reported on by the BBC, over 30% of workers are concerned about catching Covid at work. The study also revealed that the poorest paid are especially worried, and the least likely to speak out about it.
Staff might take advantage of the option to consult with an occupational health practitioner, who will assess each workers’ suitability to go back to the office.
Companies who come out the other side favourably will be those that make their employees’ health and wellbeing a top priority, adjusting their offering so that it is fit for the times.
This post is brought to you by Medical, Health and Education Ltd, specialists in Covid-19 testing, alcohol and drug tests at home and in the workplace. Please visit www.mhe.ltd for additional information.